first day's adventures~~searching out an adaptor/convertor plug

So, for my first day in Korea, after dropping off my luggage and showering, I left my room to go to the electronics store (Hi-Mart) that the emailed map showed me to buy electronics. Let me preface this by saying: I bought a convertor/adaptor at Target before I left for Korea, but after reading how it will be SOOOO easy to get one when I got to Korea and for cheap, I figured, ok, why not just wait? And so I did....and so begins the first day's adventures...

I walked outside (after it had been raining)....OOH OOOH WAITTTTT!!!! I must back track a bit...I cannot miss out on my GETTING to the university...

So, contrary to my previous post, I DID in fact take the bus. I went outside intending to get a taxi, but some guy stopped me (one of the bus drivers, i later find out) and said I could just take the bus and THEN a taxi to the school if I wanted to. It looked like a lot of other people were loading their luggage underneath the bus, so I figured, ok, why not? It will be cheaper, I'm sure. So I wind up paying 10,000 W to get to Sinchon station from the airport. At this point, it is still pouring outside. So here I am, with what is supposed to be a short 10 min walk, lost in the middle of a HUGE  intersection. Which way am I supposed to turn? Even though they say it is a 10 min walk, how do I know WHERE to walk that 10 mins??? So here I am trying to drag my luggage across the wet, rugged sidewalk, and ask a girl I run into about where it is. I start to walk in that direction, but I realize my luggage and I are not going to make it, so I ask her how to get a taxi. Ok, I get across, hail my first ever taxi, and hop in. Should be easy, right? They told me if I took a taxi instead of walk, it would be about 2-3,000 W. Ok, no biggie if it will ease my worry and complete lack of knowing what to do or where to go. No, I got even MORE stressed, as he had NO IDEA WHERE HE WAS GOING!  I showed him the paper over and over with the map, but nothing. We finally got to campus, and we drove around that place so many times. I think he asked at least 15 people on the way about where. Finally, when I feel like he got an answer that made sense to him and have a little relief, he drops me off, says "It's here" (or something to that effect) and leaves. I'm a little skeptical that it is the right building because it looks all dark. I try all the doors to no avail...and so now here I am...alone, lost, in the rain, outside a building with my luggage, and go figure, here I am in Seoul, one of the busiest/packed cities, and I look around the street and no one, I mean NO ONE is in sight! Go figure lol...so I say a little prayer~~"God, pleasE, PLEASE let someone walk down the street!" ...and BAM! A sweet university girl walks down the street, and I stop her. She is so nice to me, covers me with her umbrella and grabs my carry-on suitcase and helps me all the way into my dorm. So sweet. I will never forget you. ^^

...And then to my next unforgettable moment...

To make a long story short, I got to the dorm, showered, and went out on my adventure to explore around Seoul (well, Sinchon, really....didn't realize how many different areas are in Seoul itself) to find that darn convertor. I looked around in SOOOOO MANY different stores with NO luck at all finding one. The electronics stores, no. The cell phone stores, no. The bookstore on campus (twice), no. The convenience stores, no. Ahhhhh!!! I thought this was supposed to be easy! And so about 2-3 hours later of walking, I happen upon a tiny little cell store next door to an electronic store I went into. Probably at this point, it was no more luck than the next, but I figured, oh well, give it a shot. And oh, yes, long story is supposed to be made short here~~ so, yes, the store owner is very nice, and I show him my iPod touch and he proceeds to charge it for me, free. Ok, kamsahamnida, but I need one of those THINGS that you are USING to charge it. I got the charger (but still no convertor), and then we start talking. At this point, I have awake since before 430am, have been lost by a taxi driver, and it's sooooo humid here! annnnnd walking around for so many hours to no avail. Needless to say, it was so touching when he told me to sit down for a bit and offered me some coffee (yum yum Maxim Mocha Gold). We start talking, and from there, we become good friends. I know all about his family~his wife and two kids. I tell him how I am a student at Sogang and will then teach in Gyeongbuk. He even runs to get me "Korean water," which I have no idea what it really is, but it tasted REALLLLLLY yummmy! I definitely want to get some more. Annnyway, then he  gave me a phone. Yes, FOR FREE. I did not even ask for one or mention it~my goal was a convertor today, but look where God took me. He met my need in a friend and kindness right here. It took me probably 30 minutes to understand the concept that he was giving me a phone FOR FREE and I didn't even have to sign ANYTHING. Ahjusshi~~no id? no passport? No,...me sign anywhere? Nothing? He kept saying no no, "I love sungsaengnim!" (No, not in a creepy love-y way, but in I love teachers!). OOOOOooh, the kindness of strangers. As he said, and I agree, this, today will be "forever memory." Lol, yes, it will! I promised to visit again too. Oh, and did I mention, he wanted me to come back Monday (which, as I am writing this post on Monday...grrrr behind, I know...but jet lag has been getting me...but I did return) to give me a birthday cake with candles? I tried to say no like 15 times, but finally I gave in. It was soooo sweet! I will put up a video of it later. I will definitely come back to visit him many times before I go. We decided we would help each other out. Tee hee, and when I came back Monday to celebrate, I brought him a thank you card for all of his kindness (my attempt at writing in both English and Korean), and he hung it on his wall in his store. Awww a "forever friend" indeed. ^^